Grace is a precious treasure.

When you have a revelation of God’s grace, be careful. It is precious treasure. Guard it with all your heart.

Don’t make the mistake I made, and start arguing online with people who are opposed to the grace message. There are many who still, like the Galatians, desire to mix law with grace and believe they must try to establish their own righteousness.

They are trying to achieve the impossible.

There are many in the church who believe they can overcome sin by their own self efforts.

We can not achieve what Christ has already achieved – on the cross.

Don’t make my mistake and argue with such people, because it is exhausting, and the opposition will do all he can to sow doubt in your mind, to tell you that grace isn’t that good, you’re not saved forever, you can still lose your salvation if you sin.

Be careful.

When you have the grace revelation, that is, when God reveals the wonders of his amazing grace to you, as a good friend of mine advised, grasp it tightly and don’t let go.

And take Henry J.M Nouwen’s advice:

“Because finding the treasure is only the beginning of the search you have to be careful. If you expose the treasure to others without fully owning it you might harm yourself and even lose the treasure.”

–  The Inner Voice of Love.

When you have, as Paul says, understood God’s grace in all its truth (Colossians 1:6) grasp it tightly, and bury it in your heart. Then, start to study the scriptures afresh through a ‘grace’ lens. You don’t have to do anything, just pray and ask God to reveal His word anew to you.

And don’t be discouraged by what seem to be difficult passages. Rather, listen to preachers and teachers who are strong in the Word and in the Grace message, like Joseph Prince, Paul White, Paul Ellis and Simon Yap as well as Facebook pages like Grace (see my blog role for other ‘grace’ teachers) and listen to how these dilligent teachers have approached the various difficult passages and criticisms from Christians still, tragically, trapped under ‘law’.

We find reading difficult passages out of context can sow doubt and stress (exactly what the enemy wants). However, with patience, uncovering the historical and cultural contexts behind the N.T letters, and digging into the original language, we find that scripture doesn’t contradict God’s unlimited grace for those who believe, but rather affirms it. Remember, take ‘text’ out of ‘context’ and you’re left with ‘con’.

Most of all, don’t get into fights and arguments with believers still bound by the law. They haven’t had the revelation yet, like you. Consider yourself privileged! Before you fight the grace corner, be strong yourself first in your belief. If God has revealed His magnificent grace to you, He has done it for a reason. Not everyone ‘gets’ grace. Read Paul Ellis’s brilliant article ‘How well did I understand grace before I understood grace?’ If you’ve seen grace for the first time, it really is like being born again again, and seeing a whole new Jesus.

Finally, God has revealed grace to you for a reason. It is a precious treasure. Protect it. Guard it, but don’t fight for it yet, until you are strong in your own belief, so strong you can not be shaken.

He is our fortress and He will fight for us. When the time is right for you to stand up for grace and truth, He will tell you.

The Lord will fight for you. You have only to be still.

Grace and Peace!

Steve.